Bedfellows

I took a nap the other afternoon and woke to find these guys camped out at the foot of the bed.
They always love it when we nap as a full pride.

Baby Cookin' Update - 10

Ten Weeks                                           

Size of Baby - A kumquat

Cravings - Fruit. Yesterday I had two plums, a pear, and chased that all down with an entire pineapple. Also cheese. Yum.

What is different this time around - I'm pretty sure that by this time with Ryann, most of the minuscule nausea I had was gone. Not so lucky this time. I'm hoping that it fades away in the next two weeks. By the end of the day I'm just so sick of fighting the nausea all day that I just want to go to sleep so I don't feel it any more. I'm so looking forward to the second trimester.

Symptoms - Nausea (let's beat a dead horse), smaller stomach (can't eat very large portions).

Appointments - This afternoon we go in for baby's first portrait! Hip hip hooray! We had our last midwife appointment on Friday. They tried to find the heartbeat with the Doppler, but couldn't quite get it (do not fear, that's not unusual for this early on). When we had our meet-and-greet with the midwife several months ago, she mentioned that they don't generally do early ultrasounds unless there's a reason to. However, she also said that if it would bring us some peace of mind, because of everything we've already been through, they'd be more than happy to go ahead and do one. On Friday we asked about that and they got us set up for an appointment with the ultrasound tech for today. The midwife also offered to pop in to the ultrasound room and see what we could see on Friday, which we of course jumped at. We were able to make out a wee babe with a fluttering heartbeat, although we didn't take any measurements. The midwife commented on how active the little one was, which made Jared and I laugh. It was lying there and kicking off and on. With Ryann's early ultrasound, she was ricocheting around my innards like a Mexican jumping bean! Of course, Ryann was 12 weeks at that appointment, and a two week difference if pretty huge at this point. Can't wait to see if we have another Rambo-babe.
                                                              

Back to Back Baby Cookin' Updates! - 9

I'm afraid I've been a bit remiss in updating on the growing little one. The nausea, exhaustion, and travel all took their toll and it's been all I could do to get through work every day. I'm starting to get back in the swing of things and so, here's the much delayed nine week update. Keep posted for week ten tomorrow.

Nine Weeks                                           

Size of Baby - A grape

Cravings - Still pretty much the same. Potatoes, cheese, pasta, fruit. Last time fruit was my number one craving and I can already see that craving starting to grow. The other day I found some decent pears and nectarines at Trader Joe's and thought I had died and gone to heaven! They're all gone now, must make my way back. Oh! A new craving is peanut butter. I'm usually not at all a peanut butter lover, but recently it just tastes amazing. Two mornings ago I actually had FOUR slices of toast slathered with peanut butter. Crazy.

What is different this time around - Same ol' same ol'. More nausea, bigger belly.

Symptoms - Still with the nausea. I now also have a constant nasty taste in my mouth. Not fun. And definitly not a good mix with feeling queasy. Sadly, gum only makes it worse. I've also been experiencing a fair bit of soreness in my lower belly. I'm assuming it's simply from it growing and shifting. I'm crossing my fingers that it's not from that muscle I pulled in aerobics when I was just 4 weeks along.

Appointments - Our next appointment is tomorrow! I'll be exactly 10 weeks by that point. They're going to try for the heartbeat and I'm hoping that they also decide to do the early ultrasound.

                                                              

Miscellaneous Cruising Photos

Jared sipping some NOLA chicory coffee
the morning we cast off.

 

My sis, Kristin, and her hubs and baby, David and Mei, swimming in the ocean in Jamaica.




Jamaica



Grand Cayman - The top story of the yellow shop was for rent.
Jared and I daydreamed about living for the rest of the winter.



Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman



The requisite tanned burned face shot

Valentine's Day

I frequently get frustrated with my friends who seem all to quick to mistake the butterflies-in-the-stomach, mushy, romantic, chocolate-dipped feelings they get (or often create) for love. Now don't misunderstand, there's nothing wrong with any of that. But in and of itself, it is not love. Those feelings come and go. They're great for the good times, but when they dissolve and nothing else is left, everyone is left feeling betrayed and confused.

True love can also experience the mushy nothings. But it will see you through the bad. It will anchor you during the hard times and comfort you when no one else is there. It is a beacon. A companion. A friend. When the ceiling falls, it is still there. Because it's a choice. A living thing kept warm by the continual choice on both people's parts that to experience life together is exponentially better than to go it alone.

Jared, you are the Paul to my Joanne.

On the day we buried our daughter

I'm Back!

Between the exhaustion I've been hit with, the nausea I've been fighting every day, and just having returned from a week long cruise with my entire family, I just haven't made the time to update this blog. But have no fear. We're now back in the states and have somewhat settled back into our routine, which I will make sure includes random smatterings on this here page. For now, enjoy a couple shots from New Orleans, where we spent a couple days before casting off.